World · Africa · 1 day ago
Macaques in Thailand face rising demand and alleged wildlife smuggling
In Lopburi, a Thai city known for its monkeys, long-tailed macaques live close to people and are seen as both a tourist attraction and a nuisance.
Animal advocates say poachers are luring monkeys into vehicles and taking them away.
They say some animals are smuggled abroad, including to neighbouring Cambodia, where they may be sold on a black market.
Demand for macaques has risen worldwide since the Covid-19 pandemic and China's export ban, according to the story.
The monkeys share more than 90 percent of their genetic material with humans, making them useful in medical research, including vaccine development.
Thailand's National Primate Research Centre director says its monkeys were legally captured with government approval to establish a breeding population, while a local veterinarian opposes testing on them.
The debate centres on research demand and animal welfare, and one advocate says research should take place in Thailand rather than involve selling monkeys abroad.
Long-tailed macaques in Thailand face increased poaching amid rising global demand for animals used in medical research.
In Lopburi, a wildlife advocate says poachers have taken monkeys by luring them onto pick-up trucks.
A veterinarian says police found a cage, tranquilizer darts and sedatives after she reported a vehicle carrying stolen macaques.
Demand has risen since the Covid-19 pandemic and China’s export ban, according to the report.
Thailand’s national primate research centre director says macaques are numerous and can be legally captured with official permission, while a veterinarian opposes testing on them.
- Who
- Long-tailed macaques in Thailand, including those in Lopburi, are being targeted. Wildlife advocates and a veterinarian describe poaching; the national primate research centre director supports research using the animals.
- What
- The report describes alleged smuggling of macaques abroad and rising demand for their use in medical research.
- When
- Demand has risen since the Covid-19 pandemic and China’s export ban. The article was published on 8 November 2026.
- Where
- Lopburi, Thailand, and alleged destinations abroad, including neighbouring Cambodia.
- Why
- Macaques are used in medical research because of their genetic similarity to humans. The report says they share more than 90% of their genetic material with humans.
Wildlife research supporters
Animal-welfare opponents
Use in medical research
Wildlife research supporters
The national primate research centre director says macaques are indispensable for research and says animals at her centre were captured legally with official permission.
Animal-welfare opponents
The veterinarian says macaques are sentient beings and that she is personally against experiments on them.
Research in Thailand
Wildlife research supporters
The centre director would prefer researchers to come to Thailand and conduct experiments there rather than sell monkeys abroad.
Animal-welfare opponents
The veterinarian opposes experiments on macaques; the report does not state whether she supports conducting them in Thailand.
Manad Vimuktipune has mediated conflicts between macaques and residents in Lopburi.
Global demand for macaques has risen, according to the report.
Police found a cage, tranquilizer darts and sedatives.
- Location
- Lopburi, Thailand
- Species
- Long-tailed macaques
- Genetic similarity
- More than 90% of genetic material shared with humans
- Demand
- Rose since the Covid-19 pandemic and China’s export ban
- Reported police findings
- A cage, tranquilizer darts and sedatives
- Article publication
- 8 November 2026
What people are saying
Long-tailed macaques are indispensable for research.
Since I have cared for them, I have seen the love macaques feel within their groups.
The poachers smuggle the monkeys abroad. They are resold there. There is a lucrative black market.
There is global demand, after all.